More destinations, denser frequencies and better connections: the collaboration between Lufthansa and SWISS continues to make good progress…
More destinations, denser frequencies and better connections: the collaboration between Lufthansa and SWISS continues to make good progress, and will now offer customers many further benefits with the new winter schedules. All services between Switzerland and Germany will be operated as codeshare flights from the start of the new schedules on October 30. The partners are also harmonising their timetables to provide a coordinated and complementary range of services at their three hubs of Zurich, Frankfurt and Munich. SWISS`s integration into the Lufthansa Group continues to make good progress – as can be seen, among other things, by the many innovations in the new 2005/06 winter schedules that will offer passengers of both airlines an expanded air travel product and further customer benefits. Those benefits include more destinations, better and coordinated connections, interlinked frequent flyer programmes and enhanced lounge access arrangements.
Coordinated services between Switzerland and Germany in the new winter schedules
Lufthansa and SWISS are harmonising their services between Switzerland and Germany in their 2005/06 winter schedules effective October 30. All Lufthansa and all SWISS flights between the two countries will be operated as codeshares, and the partners` timetables will be closely coordinated: instead of competing against each other with almost simultaneous departures (as was often the case in the past), the partners have realigned their schedules to offer a denser frequency of services spread throughout the day. For customers, the new approach means more frequencies, additional destinations and better connections (through coordinated timetables) at the three hubs of Zurich, Frankfurt and Munich. SWISS will offer 69 destinations in 41 countries in its winter schedules, while Lufthansa offers service to 181 destinations in 76 countries. Customers will now have a choice of 563 flights a week between Switzerland and Germany in the new timetable period.
Our joint approach to our services between Switzerland and Germany marks another milestone in the still-young partnership between our two carriers, says Christoph Franz, President and Chief Executive Officer of SWISS. And we are delighted at the genuine added value that it will provide for our passengers.
These enhancements for our customers confirm that, as they continue to develop their partnership, Lufthansa and SWISS are on the right track, adds Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President Marketing & Sales, Lufthansa German Airlines. We are making good and rapid progress, and are offering a wide range of new opportunities to all our passengers. The network is growing, and our customers are feeling all the many benefits of better flight connections and an expanded service product.
Once the corresponding traffic rights issues have been clarified, Lufthansa and SWISS aim to extend their codeshare operations to selected intercontinental routes.
A joint presence under a single roof
In a further collaborative innovation from the start of the winter schedules, all the partners` check-in desks and departure gates at their three hubs of Zurich, Frankfurt and Munich will be accommodated with the home carrier. In Zurich, Lufthansa (and Austrian Airlines) passengers will be served at Check-in 1 and Check-in 3, and the aircraft of these SWISS partner carriers will use Pier A wherever possible. In Frankfurt, SWISS will be accommodated in Terminal 1; and in Munich SWISS will use Terminal 2.
The new handling arrangements offer customers a host of tangible benefits. The shorter journeys between gates permit quicker transfers and thus better connections. And the use of joint desks will make the entire check-in process faster and smoother for SWISS customers in Germany and for Lufthansa customers in Switzerland (in Zurich, Geneva and Basel). SWISS`s integration into the Lufthansa Group will also be underlined to customers by a joint visual appearance at the partners` three hubs. Operations at further airports in Switzerland and Germany should be similarly harmonised between now and next year`s summer schedules.
Extended lounge access
Elite-level Lufthansa and SWISS customers already enjoy the use of both partners` lounges. With the coming winter schedules, this facility will be extended to all Business Class customers, Swiss TravelClub Silver members and Miles & More Frequent Travellers.
Frequent flyer programmes more attractive than ever
Members of the Swiss TravelClub and Lufthansa Miles & More frequent flyer programmes have been able to collect and spend miles on both partners` networks since July 20. Swiss TravelClub members earn Club Miles on all scheduled services operated by Lufthansa, and can redeem their miles for Lufthansa Free Tickets; and Miles & More members earn award miles and status miles on all SWISS-operated flights, and can book flight awards on SWISS. The features of the two frequent flyer programmes will be further interlinked in association with SWISS`s planned membership of Star Alliance in 2006.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
